Understanding School Trust Land in the Boundary Waters

In June, the Federal Government announced plans to purchase approximately 80,000 acres of School Trust Land within the Boundary Waters. This decision, reached through an agreement between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Superior National Forest, and other agencies, marks a pivotal moment in resolving long-standing land management issues in the region.

What is School Trust Land?

School Land Trust in Minnesota refers to lands set aside in the 19th century to provide funding for public schools in the state. One of the main purposes of these lands was to generate revenue for Minnesota’s public education system through activities such as logging or mining.

Why is School Trust Land in the Boundary Waters a big deal?

The 1964 Wilderness Act and the 1978 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act transformed and protected over a million acres of a land in northeastern Minnesota. This included approximately 80,000 acres of School Trust lands, which are today located within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This has created a long-standing management issue because, as a designated Wilderness Area, these lands cannot be developed for economic gain, thereby preventing the School Trust from generating revenue from these lands as originally intended.

Anti-environmental groups and mining lobbyists have often played a cynical political game and claimed that this land, and the revenue it could generate, was taken from the state. Because this land is located within a protected wilderness, it cannot be developed or exploited in any way.

Around 2015, anti-environmental groups hoped this would be resolved by exchanging the approximately 80,000 acres of Minnesota School Trust Lands in the Boundary Waters with federal land outside of the Boundary Waters, in the Superior National Forest. This scheme would effectively shrink the Superior National Forest by as much as 47 square miles. As a proponent of this scheme once said, “Once the exchange is done, we are going to log and mine the hell out of it.”

Why This is Good News:

The current proposed purchase of these 80,000 acres by the Federal Government aims to resolve this long-standing issue by providing a one-time payment to the School Trust while keeping the lands under federal protection within the BWCA. This benefits all parties involved, particularly those who care about the Boundary Waters and protected, public lands surrounding the Wilderness. Here’s why.

1. Preserving Public Lands: This purchase avoids a potential land swap that could have shrunk the Superior National Forest and opened up vast swaths of area to extractive industries like logging and mining. Keeping these lands under federal protection ensures their preservation for future generations.
2. Expanding Public Access: As part of this agreement, an additional 17,000 acres of land outside of the Boundary Waters, held by The Conservation Fund, will also be purchased. This expansion of public land within the Superior National Forest will increase access for everyone, providing more opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment of Minnesota’s natural beauty.
3. Resolving Historical Conflicts: This purchase addresses long-standing concerns about School Trust Lands within the BWCAW. These lands, set aside in the 19th century to generate funding for public schools, have been barred from economic use due to the passage of Wilderness legislation. The purchase will provide a one-time payment to the School Trust, resolving this economic dilemma while maintaining the integrity of the Wilderness area.

This agreement represents a balanced approach that honors both the educational mission of the School Trust Lands and the environmental importance of the Boundary Waters. It’s a reminder that with cooperation and creative problem-solving, we can find solutions that benefit both our communities and our natural heritage.

The Superior National Forest is now seeking public input on this proposed purchase. To learn more or share your thoughts, visit their project webpage or attend one of the upcoming open houses.